Young welding extraordinaire promotes work through unique business
An Okotoks high-school student is creating sparks in the local art scene.
Kalen Wolfe, a 19-year-old grade 12 student, has been welding household items, such as forks, spoons and knives, and turning them into unique art pieces that are being sold in Calgary.
A specialty store in Inglewood, called reWORKS, has one of Wolfe’s cutlery crocodiles on display.
Produced by: Jeremy Thompson and Michael Coles
The store only sells items that are made entirely from recycled material, a process called
“upcycling.” The store makes some of their wares in house –sewing pillows and other items from old upholstery samples, as well as making picture frames out of old wooden pallets.
Founder and owner of reWORKS, Solita Work, says that she is seeing more and more local artists come into her store trying to get her to buy and sell their works.
She has to turn some artists away, but she often buys from artists if the items fit her criteria.
Wolfe started by selling his creations online, using sites like Kijiji, but recently he got in touch with reWORKS and considers himself lucky to be featured in the quirky store.
Wolfe is also an advocate for young local artists. He worked to have his art, alongside 14 of his fellow classmates, displayed at the Okotoks Art Gallery.
jthompson@cjournal.ca
mcoles@cjournal.ca